India impress in Super 8s victory over Afghanistan

India underlined their title credentials with a comprehensive 47-run victory over Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup Super 8s in Barbados.

Suryakumar Yadav struck a sublime 53 off 28 balls to lead India to an imposing 181-8 despite their acclaimed top order failing to fire.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan and tournament leading wicket-taker Fazalhaq Farooqi impressed, claiming three wickets each, but a loose end to the innings left their batters little room for error in the chase.

They slipped to 23-3 early on in their reply, with India’s supreme fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah removing both openers on his way to figures of 3-7.India kept the pressure on to ensure Afghanistan fell far behind the required rate, before they were dismissed for 134 off the final ball, with Arshdeep Singh taking 3-36.

Brief scores:

India 181 for 8 in 20 overs

(Virat Kohli 24, Rishabh Pant 20, Suryakumar Yadav 53, Hardik Pandya 32;  Rashid Khan  3-26, Fazalhaq  Farooqi 3-33, Naveen ul-Haq 1-40) beat Afghanistan 134 in 20 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 26; Jasprit Bumrah 3-07, Arshdeep Singh 3-36, Axar Patel 1-15, Kuldeep Yadav 2-32, Ravindra Jadeja 1-20) by 47 runs

(BBC)